Kepler discovers three super-Earth planets (pictures)

The planets in the habitable zone orbiting a star may be suitable for liquid water and supporting life.

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Kepler-62 and the solar system

NASA today announced that Kepler, its alien world-hunting spacecraft, has discovered two previously unknown planetary systems including three super-Earth size planets in the much-coveted "habitable zone" capable of sustaining life.

This diagram compares the planets of our solar system to Kepler-62, one of the newly found systems. The five-planet system is a relatively close 1,200 light-years from Earth, in the constellation Lyra. The five planets of Kepler-62 orbit a 7-billion-year-old star classified as a K2 dwarf -- just two-thirds the size of our sun -- and only one-fifth as bright.

Much like our solar system, Kepler-62 is home to two habitable zone worlds, Kepler-62f and Kepler-62e. Kepler-62f orbits every 267 days and is only 40 percent larger than Earth, making it the smallest exoplanet known in the habitable zone of another star. The other habitable zone planet, Kepler-62e, orbits every 122 days and is roughly 60 percent larger than Earth.

The two habitable zone worlds orbiting Kepler-62 have three interior companions, two larger than the size of Earth and one about the size of Mars. Kepler-62b, Kepler-62c, and Kepler-62d orbit every five, 12, and 18 days, respectively, making them very hot and inhospitable for life as we know it.

Kepler-62f, a small habitable zone world

This artist's concept depicts Kepler-62f, a super-Earth size planet in the habitable zone of a star smaller and cooler than the sun, located about 1,200 light-years from Earth in the constellation Lyra.

Kepler-69 and the solar system

This graphic shows the planets of our inner solar system as compared with the Kepler-69 system, a two-planet system about 2,700 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cygnus. The two planets of Kepler-69 orbit a star that belongs to the same class as our sun, a G-type star.

Kepler-69c orbits a sun-like star every 242 days, while its companion planet, Kepler-69b, is just over twice the size of Earth and whizzes around its star once every 13 days.

Kepler-62f with 62e as morning star

Kepler-62f, shown here in an artist's illustration, is a super-Earth size planet in the habitable zone of a star smaller and cooler than the sun. It's located a relatively close 1,200 light-years from Earth in the constellation Lyra.

The smallest of the recently discovered habitable zone planets, Kepler-62f is roughly 40 percent larger than Earth in size, orbiting its host star every 267 days. NASA stresses that although we do know the size of the planet, its mass and composition are unknown.

Much like our solar system, Kepler-62 is home to two habitable zone worlds. The small shining object seen to the right of Kepler-62f is Kepler-62e. Orbiting on the inner edge of the habitable zone, Kepler-62e is roughly 60 percent larger than Earth.

Kepler-69c: Super-Venus

Kepler-69c, seen here in an illustration of what the habitable zone planet might look like, is a super-Earth size planet orbiting a star much like our sun, about 2,700 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cygnus.

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